Precisely 19 years in the past, Nick Diaz fought Joe Riggs.
Twice in a single evening.
The notorious story of their UFC 57 showdown on Feb. 4, 2006, and, notably, the following brawl within the emergency room has been chronicled earlier than, however the newest episode of the brand new docuseries “Darkish Aspect of the Cage” takes it to a different stage with the participation of each fighters — Diaz included.
“[Diaz] talked in regards to the combat within the hospital with Joe Riggs, and he speaks about it in individual,” sequence govt producer Tim Healy not too long ago informed The Put up, “and [we] really received Joe Riggs to talk about it. I believe persons are going to get a kick out of that story. I believe lots of people most likely will.”
Revisiting that pivotal, impromptu slide of Diaz’s profession, which prompted his UFC launch. Rising his cult-favorite standing from outdoors the octagon and ultimately returning an even bigger star than ever, is one among many intriguing recollections the squirrelly Diaz spoke about throughout a uncommon sitdown for the episode “Nick Diaz vs. the World” (10 p.m. Wednesday, Vice TV).
Securing Diaz’s cooperation with the sequence wasn’t simple — which ought to shock precisely no one acquainted with him.
“We had no concept he would sit [for an interview]. We dedicated to the episode totally anticipating him to say no,” Healy mentioned. “We figured we’d by no means hear again. Nick was technically an lively fighter on the time, and that’s Nick being Nick. I believe most fighters would most likely get their request, in the event that they’re on the lively roster, and they might most likely suppose it’s most likely not a fantastic factor for me to do.
“Nick being Nick, he determined that it was one thing that he wished to do, and after six months of chasing him, he confirmed up in Houston, Texas, and sat down for nearly three hours.”
Technically, Diaz stays an lively member of the UFC roster.
Final 12 months, Diaz twice had been scheduled to compete towards Vicente Luque, however the matchup was scuttled every time.
Since then, regarding experiences surrounding Diaz’s well being and wellness had circulated, with Diaz himself in addition to pals reminiscent of Jake Shields providing extra constructive updates final month.
Drug use, notably marijuana, goes hand-in-hand with the story of each Diaz and youthful brother Nate — whose fame possible has eclipsed his personal due to his pair of famed fights with Conor McGregor and a more moderen boxing match towards Jake Paul.
Testing constructive for pot in Nevada in 2015 notoriously netted Nick Diaz a five-year suspension from competitors, a very harsh ban that was later trimmed on enchantment to 18 months; he wouldn’t compete once more for six ½ years regardless.
Diaz and those that know him greatest, reminiscent of former coach Cesar Gracie, talk about in “DSOTC” how marijuana was used for what he considered as a greater method to cope with his consideration deficit dysfunction than the medicine he had been prescribed.
Years previous to that suspension, Diaz had a signature victory over Satisfaction light-weight champion Takanori Gomi overturned to a no contest by his first constructive check for marijuana in Nevada.
“I didn’t know there was something towards it within the guidelines,” Diaz says of that first punishment, which included a nice and a six-month suspension, in an unique clip from the episode offered to The Put up. “I wasn’t wanting. I wasn’t asking questions.”
Although nonetheless a part of the UFC roster, Diaz has fought simply as soon as since that suspension — a Sept. 2021 loss in a rematch towards former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.
That decade-plus distance from the overwhelming majority of his combat profession, highlighted by a run as Strikeforce welterweight champ and a well-promoted however unsuccessful try to dethrone UFC Corridor of Famer Georges St-Pierre, provides Diaz the flexibility to supply a stage of introspection unusual from lively fighters.
Actually, Diaz is the one main topic of the 10-episode first season of “DSOTC,” which Healy says is by design.
“Fact be informed, we actually centered on athletes which can be retired, which have had their MMA profession put into the rear-view mirror,” Healy explains, “simply because there are many fighters and lively fighters in MMA that will make nice candidates for episodes, however I simply don’t suppose we’d get the identical stage of introspection and honesty within the within the interview chair.”